Dancing with the Stars returned for a second series on 7 January 2018 on RTÉ One. Loraine Barry, Brian Redmond and Julian Benson returned to the judging panel for a second year, while Amanda Byram and Nicky Byrne also returned as hosts.
Sean Smullen did not return for this series, however all other professional dancers did. Sean was replaced by former Dancing with the Stars: Taniec z gwiazdami professional champion, Robert Rowiński.
The competition was won by Jake Carter alongside professional partner Karen Byrne.
On 25 March 2018, RTÉ announced that it would return for a third series in 2019.
Couples On 3 December 2017, it was confirmed that Deirdre O'Kane would compete in the series. On 4 December 2017, it was revealed on RTÉ 2fm's Breakfast Republic that host, Bernard O'Shea, was the latest celebrity to confirmed to be taking part. On 6 December 2017, in an interview with Ryan Tubridy on his breakfast show on RTÉ Radio 1, it was revealed that Maïa Dunphy would be taking part in the series. On 8 December 2017, Erin McGregor, Marty Morrissey and Norah Casey appeared on The Late Late Show confirming their participation, with the remaining five contestants being confirmed later in the show. On 20 December 2017, previously confirmed celebrity, Aoife Walsh, was forced to pull out of the show due to injury; she was replaced by Alannah Beirne.
Celebrity Known for Professional Status Norah Casey Businesswoman Curtis Pritchard Eliminated 1st on 21 January 2018 Tomás O'Leary Former rugby player Giulia Dotta Eliminated 2nd on 28 January 2018 Maïa Dunphy Broadcaster & author Robert Rowiński Eliminated 3rd on 4 February 2018 Bernard O'Shea Stand-up comedian Valeria Milova Eliminated 4th on 18 February 2018 Marty Morrissey RTÉ Sport broadcaster Ksenia Zsikhotska Eliminated 5th on 25 February 2018 Alannah Beirne Britain's Next Top Model finalist Vitali Kozmin Eliminated 6th on 4 March 2018 Rob HeffernanOlympic race walker Emily Barker Eliminated 7th on 11 March 2018 Erin McGregor Fitness model Ryan McShane Eliminated 8th on 18 March 2018 Deirdre O'Kane Stand-up comedian & actress John NolanRunners-up on 25 March 2018 Anna Geary Former Cork camogie player Kai WiddringtonJake CarterSinger-songwriterKaren Byrne Winners on 25 March 2018
Scoring chart Couple Place 1 231/2+3 4 5676+789101112Jake & Karen1—21402424265027+=+=26+25=51++=Anna & Kai2—211839222222 +=29+4=33+=++=Deirdre & John—18193725192620462426+=56+=+=29+29+=Erin & Ryan4—2245212420284825+=5427+3=30+25=52Rob & Emily517—1835202516213718+=25+2=27Alannah & Vitali6—202623224926+=54Marty & Ksenia712—141630Bernard & Valeria8—17271814Maïa & Robert9—16291919Tomás & Giulia1017—223916Norah & Curtis11—151732 Red numbers indicate the couples with the lowest score for each week. Green numbers indicate the couples with the highest score for each week. the couple eliminated that week the returning couple that was called forward and eventually last to be called safe, but was not necessarily in the bottom the returning couple that finished in the bottom two and competed in the Dance-Off the winning couple the runner-up couple
Average chart This table only counts for single dances scored on a traditional 30-points scale. It does not include the Team Dance or Marathon scores. Rank by average Place Couple Total points Number of dances Total average 1 1 Jake & Karen 365 14 26.07 2 2 Anna & Kai 355 14 25.36 3 4 Erin & Ryan 271 11 24.64 4 6 Alannah & Vitali 194 8 24.25 5 2 Deirdre & John 333 14 23.79 6 5 Rob & Emily 179 9 19.89 7 10 Tomás & Giulia 55 3 18.33 8 9 Maïa & Robert 67 4 16.75 9 11 Norah & Curtis 32 2 16.0 10 8 Bernard & Valeria 85 6 14.17 11 7 Marty & Ksenia 93 7 13.29
Highest and lowest scoring performances The highest and lowest performances in each dance according to the judges' scale are as follows. Dance Celebrity Highest score Celebrity Lowest score TangoAnna Geary28Bernard O'Shea10 Cha-cha-chaErin McGregor25 Marty Morrissey 8 SalsaAnna Geary30Bernard O'Shea17 FoxtrotErin McGregor 24 Norah Casey15 CharlestonAnna GearyJake Carter 30Marty Morrissey 12 WaltzErin McGregor29Maïa Dunphy 16 QuickstepDeirdre O'Kane 29 Marty Morrissey 12 Jive Anna Geary29Marty Morrissey14 RumbaJake Carter 26 Marty Morrissey 16 Paso DobleErin McGregor 28 Tomás O'Leary16 American SmoothAlannah BeirneDeirdre O'Kane 26 Bernard O'Shea 14 Contemporary Ballroom Jake Carter30Rob Heffernan24 SambaErin McGregor 27Anna Geary 18 Viennese WaltzJake Carter28Bernard O'Shea13 ShowdanceJake CarterAnna Geary 30 Deirdre O'Kane27Team DanceAlannah BeirneDeirdre O'KaneJake Carter30Anna GearyErin McGregorRob Heffernan25Swing-a-thonJake Carter5Deirdre O'Kane1
Couples' highest and lowest scoring dances Couples Highest scoring dance Lowest scoring dance Jake & Karen CharlestonContemporary BallroomShowdance (30) Salsa (19) Anna & Kai CharlestonSalsaShowdance (30)Samba (18) Deirdre & John CharlestonQuickstep (29)Jive (18) Erin & Ryan Waltz (29)Quickstep (20) Rob & Emily Viennese WaltzFoxtrot (25) Quickstep (16) Alannah & Vitali Tango (27)Waltz (20) Marty & Ksenia FoxtrotRumba (16) Cha-cha-cha (8) Bernard & Valeria Paso Doble (18)Tango (10) Maïa & Robert RumbaTango (19)Cha-cha-cha (13) Tomás & Giulia Jive (22)Paso Doble (16) Norah & Curtis Paso Doble (17)Foxtrot (15)
Weekly scores and songs Unless indicated otherwise, individual judges scores in the charts below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Brian Redmond, Loraine Barry, Julian Benson.
Week 1 Individual judges scores in the charts below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Brian Redmond, Loraine Barry, Darren Bennett.
Due to an illness, Darren Bennett filled in for Julian Benson.
Guest act: Series 1 champions, Aidan O'Mahony and Valeria Milova performing a Charleston to 'I Got a Woman'
Running order (Men) Couple Score Dance Music Rob & Emily 17 (5, 6, 6) Jive "One Way or Another (Teenage Kicks)"—One Direction Bernard & Valeria 10 (2, 4, 4) Tango "Video Killed the Radio Star"—The Buggles Tomás & Giulia 17 (5, 6, 6) Foxtrot "All of Me"—John Legend Jake & Karen 19 (6, 6, 7) Salsa "Reggaetón Lento (Remix)"—CNCO & Little Mix Marty & Ksenia 12 (3, 4, 5) Quickstep "You're Such a Good Looking Woman"—Joe Dolan
Week 2 Individual judges scores in the charts below (given in parentheses) are listed in this order from left to right: Brian Redmond, Loraine Barry, Darren Bennett.
Darren Bennett filled in for Julian Benson.
Guest act: Brendan Cole and Faye Huddleston performing a Rumba to 'Fields of Gold' Running order (Women) Couple Score Dance Music Anna & Kai 21 (6, 8, 7) Tango"Rebel Rebel"—David Bowie Alannah & Vitali 20 (6, 7, 7) Waltz "Moon River"— Andrea RossMaïa & Robert 13 (4, 4, 5)Cha-cha-cha"Don't Be So Hard on Yourself"—Jess GlynneNorah & Curtis15 (5, 5, 5)Foxtrot"Nora"—Tara O'GradyErin & Ryan23 (7, 8, 8)Salsa"Instruction"—Jax Jones feat. Demi Lovato & Stefflon DonDeirdre & John18 (6, 6, 6)Jive"Mayhem"—Imelda May
Week 3 Julian Benson returned to the panel following a two-week absence.
Running order Couple Score Dance Music ResultsDeirdre & John19 (6, 6, 7)Tango"I Drove All Night"—Roy Orbison and The Royal Philharmonic OrchestraSafeTomás & Giulia22 (7, 7, 8)Jive"Chasing Cars"—The BaseballsSafe Alannah & Vitali 26 (8, 9, 9)Charleston"Emergency"—Icona PopSafeMaïa & Robert 16 (5, 5, 6) Waltz"See the Day"—Girls AloudSafeBernard & Valeria 17 (5, 6, 6)Salsa"He's the Greatest Dancer"—Sister SledgeSafe Anna & Kai 18 (6, 6, 6)Samba"New Rules"—Dua LipaSafeNorah & Curtis 17 (5, 6, 6)Paso Doble"Señorita"—BondEliminatedJake & Karen21 (7, 7, 7)Quickstep"Knee Deep in My Heart"—Shane FilanSafeRob & Emily18 (6, 6, 6)Tango"I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)"—The ProclaimersLast to be called safeMarty & Ksenia8 (2, 2, 4)Cha-cha-cha"I Got You (I Feel Good)"—James BrownLast to be called safeErin & Ryan22 (7, 7, 8)Viennese Waltz"You Don't Own Me"—Grace & G-EazySafe
Week 4: Movie Week Running order CoupleScoreDanceMusicMovieResultErin & Ryan21 (6, 7, 8)Charleston"Woo-Hoo"—The 5.6.7.8'sKill Bill: Volume 1SafeMarty & Ksenia15 (4, 5, 6)American Smooth"Pretty Irish Girl"—Brendan O'Dowda and Ruby MurrayDarby O'Gill and the Little PeopleSafeRob & Emily20 (6, 7, 7)Samba"Jump in the Line (Shake, Señora)"—Harry BelafonteBeetlejuiceSafeMaïa & Robert19 (6, 6, 7)Rumba"Up Where We Belong"—Joe Cocker and Jennifer WarnesAn Officer and a GentlemanLast to be called safeTomás & Giulia16 (5, 5, 6)Paso Doble"Immigrant Song"—Led ZeppelinThor: RagnarokEliminatedJake & Karen24 (8, 8, 8)Cha-cha-cha"The Power of Love"—Huey Lewis and the NewsBack to the FutureSafeAnna & Kai27 (9, 9, 9)Contemporary Ballroom"Let It Go"—Idina MenzelFrozenSafeDeirdre & John25 (8, 8, 9)Quickstep"Peppy and George"—Ernst Van Tiel & the Brussels PhilharmonicThe ArtistSafeBernard & Valeria18 (6, 6, 6)Paso Doble"He's a Pirate"—Klaus Badelt and Hans ZimmerPirates of the CaribbeanLast to be called safeAlannah & Vitali26 (8, 9, 9)American Smooth"City of Stars"—Ryan Gosling and Emma StoneLa La LandSafe
Week 5 Running order CoupleScoreDanceMusicResultAnna & Kai22 (7, 7, 8)Paso Doble"Titanium"—David Guetta feat. SiaLast to be called safeBernard & Valeria14 (4, 5, 5)American Smooth"Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy"—The TamsSafeDeirdre & John19 (6, 6, 7)Salsa"La Vida Es Un Carnaval (Reggae/Latino Remix)"—Celia CruzLast to be called safeErin & Ryan24 (8, 8, 8)Foxtrot"Feels Like Home"—Chantal KreviazukSafeMaïa & Robert19 (6, 6, 7)Tango"Hernando's Hideaway"—Alma CoganEliminatedRob & Emily25 (8, 8, 9)Viennese Waltz"Perfect"—Ed SheeranSafeAlannah & Vitali23 (8, 7, 8)Cha-cha-cha"Timber"—Pitbull feat. KeshaSafeMarty & Ksenia12 (3, 4, 5)Charleston"We No Speak Americano"—Yolanda Be Cool & DCUPSafeJake & Karen27 (9, 9, 9)Contemporary Ballroom"Sign of the Times"—Harry StylesSafe
Week 6: Switch-Up Week Guest act: Gavin James performing 'Hearts On Fire' Running order CoupleScoreDanceMusicErin & John20 (7, 6, 7)Quickstep"Life's About to Get Good"—Shania TwainMarty & Emily14 (4, 4, 6)Jive"Crocodile Rock"—Elton JohnAnna & Ryan22 (7, 7, 8)Viennese Waltz"Say You Love Me"—Jessie WareBernard & Karen13 (3, 5, 5)Charleston"Lollipop"—MikaJake & Valeria24 (8, 8, 8)Samba"Mi Gente (Remix)"—J Balvin and Willy WilliamDeirdre & Vitali26 (8, 9, 9)American Smooth"Wuthering Heights"—Kate BushAlannah & Kai27 (9, 9, 9)Tango"Green Light"—LordeRob & Ksenia16 (5, 5, 6)Quickstep"L-O-V-E"—Gregory Porter
Week 7 Running order CoupleScoreDanceMusicResultMarty & Ksenia16 (5, 5, 6)Foxtrot"Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head"—B. J. ThomasSafeAlannah & Vitali22 (7, 7, 8)Rumba"Havana"—Camila Cabello feat. Young ThugSafeDeirdre & John20 (7, 6, 7)Waltz"The Rainbow Connection"—Sarah McLachlanLast to be called safeRob & Emily21 (7, 7, 7)Salsa"Livin' la Vida Loca"—Ricky MartinSafeBernard & Valeria13 (4, 4, 5)Viennese Waltz"What's New Pussycat?"—Tom JonesEliminatedErin & Ryan28 (9, 9, 10)Paso Doble"Seven Nation Army"—The White StripesBottom twoJake & Karen26 (8, 9, 9)Tango"La cumparsita"—Jose BassoSafeAnna & Kai30 (10, 10, 10)Charleston"Bang Bang"—Will.i.amSafe Dance-Off Judges' votes to save Benson: Erin & Ryan Redmond: Erin & Ryan Barry: Did not vote, but would have voted to save Erin & Ryan
Week 8: Guilty Pleasures Week Running order CoupleScoreDanceMusicResultErin & Ryan25 (8, 8, 9)Cha-cha-cha"It's Raining Men"—The Weather GirlsSafeMarty & Ksenia16 (5, 5, 6)Rumba"The Lady in Red"—Chris de BurghEliminatedAlannah & Vitali26 (8, 9, 9)Quickstep"I'll Be There for You"—The RembrandtsBottom twoRob & Emily18 (6, 6, 6)Cha-cha-cha"Ice Ice Baby"—Vanilla IceSafeAnna & Kai22 (7, 7, 8)American Smooth"Achy Breaky Heart"—Billy Ray CyrusLast to be called safeDeirdre & John24 (7, 8, 9)Paso Doble"Tragedy"—StepsSafeJake & Karen28 (9, 9, 10)Viennese Waltz"You'll Never Walk Alone"—Gerry and the PacemakersSafe Dance-Off Judges' votes to save Benson: Alannah & Vitali Redmond: Alannah & Vitali Barry: Did not vote, but would have voted to save Alannah & Vitali
Week 9: Team Dance Week